U.S.-China talks: Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin leads a
delegation to Beijing on Thursday for talks aimed at resolving a tariff war
over American complaints about Chinese technology ambitions. The dispute
threatens to chill global economic growth. The talks are the last scheduled
high-level meeting before an agreement by both sides to suspend further
punitive action against each other’s goods expires March 1.

U.S. Government shutdown: Traders were watching negotiations
in Washington aimed at averting another government shutdown. Democrats and the
GOP disagree over how much to spend on President Donald Trump’s promised border
wall. A Friday midnight deadline is looming to prevent a second partial
government shutdown.

Global economy: Fears of a global slowdown were given
additional fuel from a report showing Britain’s economy had its slowest
economic growth since the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Both Europe
overall and China are contending with slower growth.

Energy: Benchmark U.S. crude gained 40 cents to $52.81 per
barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract
lost 31 cents on Monday to close at $52.41. Brent crude, used to price
international oils, rose 49 cents in London to $62.00. It shed 59 cents the
previous session to $61.51.

Currency: The dollar gained to 110.47 yen from Monday’s
110.36 yen. The euro edged up to $1.1283 from $1.1279.